Are You a Good Spiritual Son (or Daughter)?
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
That’s the last verse in the Old Testament, and it holds significant spiritual symbolism. It represents a father figure who pours into many.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 4:14-17, we read:
“I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is the same as what I teach everywhere in every church.”
Paul’s fathering heart is evident in this passage. It’s a scripture worth contemplating. Paul was the one who established the Corinthian Church, and he approaches them not with shame but as a warning. You can see the heart of a father in his words. He sends Timothy as a reminder and helper, instructing the Corinthians to imitate him (Paul).
Allowing correction is essential for enabling fathering in your life. Paul is addressing those who operate in pride. Pride often accompanies a religious spirit, and Paul seeks to address this pride. Jesus talks about having a stiff neck, which symbolizes pride. If you lack fear or reverence for God, it’s because you don’t think you need Him. Pride convinces you of that. However, we do need Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and those who speak into our lives. They offer truth, hope, direction, and correction, which are all necessary for us.
In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, we read:
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
Here, we see the relationship between Paul and Timothy, and Timothy’s role in passing on teachings to others. This process continues perpetually. We must always be on the lookout for the next generation of faithful individuals.
So, what is a spiritual son? A spiritual son begins to see people the way his father sees them, and he starts to love people the way his father loves them. This transformation doesn’t happen overnight.
Timothy possessed a kindred spirit with Paul and shared the same heart with the Philippians. Paul speaks highly of Timothy, stating that he has no one else like him. You can see how rare it is. Timothy was a good son. We desire our sons and daughters to have our hearts, not just to follow laws, rituals, and regulations, but to possess our spirit as well.
Becoming a spiritual son requires the potential son to become a pupil of the father, following, learning, and desiring to be taught. Luke 6:40 teaches this: “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”
To be a pupil, a son must maintain a servant posture in order to receive the leader’s anointing. They must willingly place themselves under the leadership of their father and submit to him.
I have had three spiritual fathers who have watched over me, cared for me, pushed me, held me, and taught me.
A servant’s heart is a son’s sacrifice for his father. It requires the son to position himself to receive by humbling himself and being poured into by his father. It entails submitting oneself to the father’s guidance and instruction.
Sometimes, as a spiritual son, I am asked to do things by my spiritual father that may not be easy or convenient. It is in those moments that sacrifice becomes crucial. Sacrifice is an integral part of serving. Even when our flesh is tired, sacrificial giving aligns our hearts to a posture of receiving. A spiritual son becomes a pupil because they see something in the father’s life that they desire.
Communication plays a vital role in this relationship. Sometimes people may say to me, “I texted you, and you didn’t respond.” However, when the text is two pages long, it may require more time to read and respond adequately. Understanding and respecting each other’s communication styles and preferences is part of learning to prefer one another. Pursuing the relationship with our loved ones and spiritual fathers is essential. It involves actively seeking to align ourselves with them, just as I look to follow my pastor because I recognize his worthiness as a spiritual father. It requires an open heart ready to receive.
Time is another crucial element. It takes time for a father to reproduce himself in a son. Jesus spent three years investing in His disciples. Similarly, it takes a considerable amount of time for a spiritual father to raise a spiritual son. However, for this process to occur, the son must:
- Be a pupil, willing to learn and be guided.
- Be willing to make sacrifices for the father’s sake.
- Desire to obtain what the father has.
- Remain faithful for an extended period, at least three years.
Unfortunately, many individuals bounce out of this process before fully receiving what was intended for them. It requires perseverance and commitment. In the modern world, some may find this approach restrictive or demanding because they assume everyone is on an equal playing field. However, there have always been leaders imparting wisdom to their students. Although we are all made in the image of God, there will always be leaders seeking to impart to sons and daughters.
Think of the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Elisha pursued Elijah until the end, receiving the double portion of Elijah’s anointing.
May God bless you all abundantly as you embrace the concept of sonship and cultivate relationships that lead to spiritual growth.